Cork were ‘waiting in the long grass’

CLARE selector Louis Mulqueen didn’t hide his disappointment at the outcome on Sunday. The Ennis man never doubted Cork would be difficult to overcome and was at a loss as to how people could have written off the Leesiders’ chances.
“With respect to the media, it was a joke to be reading the rubbish about Cork all week in the lead-up to the game. They were waiting in the long grass. Cork had everything in their favour, the violins were out. They were putting on the bus driver at one stage and then out comes everybody and not a bother with anybody. While it doesn’t win or lose a game, we knew that was going to happen,” said the Clare mentor.
Mulqueen agreed with the view expressed by forward Podge Collins that Clare needed to score goals.
“We had a strong wind in the first half and probably needed to have converted a goal or two from the chances we created but didn’t take. If we had gone in with a few more scores, we could have done better. We knew we were going to be put under serious pressure in the second half, facing a ’keeper who could puck the ball the length of the field,” he said.
That said, Mulqueen didn’t hide his disappointment with the scoreline. “I am very disappointed with the beating and the scoreline on the day. A few decisions went against us at crucial times. We didn’t get what we normally get as a performance and that’s worrying.
“We were looking for big performances. In the first half, Podge Collins, Colm Galvin and Darach Honan were exceptional for us. It just didn’t work for some players today and that happens. We are disappointed with the overall performance,” he told The Clare Champion.
The Clare selector believes the sidecan still make an impact in this championship. “They are a good bunch of players and it will be disappointing for a day or two but they will lift their heads and go at it in the qualifiers. You don’t become a bad team overnight. They are developing all the time. Today didn’t work or go well for us as a team but it doesn’t make them bad. We will work at it again and have another rattle in two weeks.”
He agreed Cork’s experience played a part in their victory.
“Cork showed composure on the ball. In the second half, they picked us with points. It took us 15 or 16 minutes to get a score. That was the difference. In the first half, they sniped away and got points that kept them very close to us. In the second half, we could not do what they did,” he concluded.